Congratulations go not only to barrier-breaker Chris Mosier but also to ESPN Magazine for featuring him as the first transgender athlete in its highly anticipated annual “Body Issue.” The issue features athletes of all sizes and shapes from a variety of sports in nude photo shoots that tastefully emphasize their bodies in motion.

Others being featured in this eighth “Body Issue” are Olympic diver Greg Louganis, three-time WNBA All-Star and 2015 MVP Elena Delle Donne, Antonio Brown of the Pittsburgh Steelers and U.S. women’s national soccer team forward Christen Press, among others. The issue hits newsstands next month.

A triathlete and cyclist, the 35-year-old Mosier competed last month in Spain with Team USA at the 2016 International Triathlon Union world duathlon (run-bike-run) championship. He made history as the first trans man to compete on a national all-male team. But in order to compete, he first had to successfully challenge the International Olympic Committee to change its rules on participation for transgender athletes to be more inclusive.

Calling it a “powerful storytelling platform,” Neely Lohmann, senior deputy editor and producer of ESPN magazine’s franchise issue, remarked that “Year after year, the athletes allow themselves to be completely vulnerable with our audience—not just in the photographs but with their interviews as well.”

Mosier, who first began to question his gender identity at age 4, is a powerful voice and positive change agent for transgender athletes with many history-making accomplishments already to his credit. Compete Magazine is proud to claim his as its 2013 Mark Bingham Athlete of the Year!

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